Development of a non-living model system for cell membranes and investigation of its mechanical and tribological properties
While our exposure to nanomaterials (NMs) has increased with advancements in nanotechnology, understanding harmful effects of such materials on humans is still wanting. Here we have proposed and developed a non-living model system for cell membranes which is suitable for elucidating interactions between NMs and living cells. In contrast to existing model systems for cell membranes, PAAm hydrogel was used as soft support for the lipid. Grafting of lipid with PAAm was achieved through layer by layer deposition of alternating poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM). Single step bilayer formation was observed under QCM on the PAAm-PEM support owing to high electrostatic interactions between the PEM and lipid vesicles with frequency and dissipation changes of ~-30 Hz and ~0.8x10-6, respectively. It is also shown that the PEM architecture is robust and reproducible on gels of different elastic modulus. AFM images confirm bilayer formation on top of PAAm-PEM supports with uniform bilayer patches of ~ 0.5 μm. AFM indentation experiments show significant differences in the elastic modulus and adhesion forces for systems with soft underlying supports compared to systems having a hard substrate. The physiological relevance of the developed system is clear from its mechanical characterization via AFM, where the system undergoes considerable deformation before and after bilayer rupture. This behavior is similar to behavior of real cells, in which deformation of cytoskeleton is dominant over that of the cell membrane. The model cell membrane system was also used to study shear forces at the interface of the lipid bilayer on hydrogel, which gave insights into the frictional behavior of the system and its mechanical interactions with nanoprobes.
model cell membrane, hydrogel, soft matter friction, lipid bilayer, nanomechanics
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign